{"product_id":"the-content-of-social-explanation-paperback-9780521103527","title":"The Content of Social Explanation (Paperback \/ softback) 9780521103527","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eThe Content of Social Explanation\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis is a study of the central questions of explanation in the social sciences, and a defence of 'holism' against 'individualism'.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eSusan James (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780521103527, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 11 December 2008\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e204 pages\u003cbr\u003e22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.46 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eThis is a study of the central questions of explanation in the social sciences, and a defence of 'holism' against 'individualism'. In the first half of the book Susan James sets out very clearly the philosophical background to this controversy. She locates its source not at the analytical level at which most of the debate is usually conducted but at a more fundamental, moral level, in different conceptions of the human individual. In the second half of the book she examines critically three case studies of holistic approaches - Althusser, Poulantzas and the Annales historians - and progressively refines our sense of the strengths and deficiencies of their programmes. She ends by arguing for a form of concessive holism, which offers some accommodation to liberal conceptions of individual autonomy but continues to emphasise the explanatory importance of social regularities and environments.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePart I. Theory: two views of holism: 1. The legacy of analytical philosophy\u003cbr\u003e 2. Holism and reduction\u003cbr\u003e 3. Holism and causal explanation\u003cbr\u003e Part II. Practice: holism in social explanation: 4. Absolute holism and its framework: Althusser\u003cbr\u003e 5. The framework applied: Poulantzas\u003cbr\u003e 6. Concessive holism and interests: the Annales school\u003cbr\u003e Conclusion.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Social \u0026amp; political philosophy [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Social \u0026amp; political philosophy\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Social%20\u0026amp;%20political%20philosophy%20%5BHPS%5D%22\"\u003eHPS\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46006408085784,"sku":"9780521103527","price":36.65,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9780521103527i_407aa00e-9761-49c5-ac6e-17ae7ad87d25.jpg?v=1694970906","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/the-content-of-social-explanation-paperback-9780521103527","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}